Denver Pioneers coach Jim Montgomery is a no-nonsense type of guy. But he thinks it’s nonsense that come college hockey folks don’t think senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia is one of the top three players in the country. Montgomery knows much about the Hobey Baker Award, and how character, teamwork and sportsmanship factor in. He helped Maine linemate Paul Kariya become the only freshman to win it in 1993 and believes LaLeggia is the ideal candidate this year.

“I don’t think Joey LaLeggia gets enough credit for how dominant a player he’s been this year,” Montgomery said. “To me, he’s undeniably a Hobey Hat Trick finalist. He’s the most dominant player in the best conference in college hockey, and as a defenseman he leads the conference in scoring. I think he’s being overlooked because most of his great plays are happening when most people are asleep on the East Coast.”

LaLeggia, a 2012 Edmonton Oilers’ draftee, leads the National Collegiate Hockey Conference in scoring, with 29 points (12 goals) in 22 league games. In overall scoring, LaLeggia is third (35 points in 31 games) behind teammates Danton Heinen and Trevor Moore. The NCHC has five of the top eight teams in the PairWise Rankings.Read more…

“It was tough to evaluate our game 5-on-5,” Montgomery said. “It was a little bit like an exhibition game.”

DU and RPI combined for 41 penalty minutes. And the Pioneers out-shot the Engineers 18-2 in the first period.

Worse still, Tanner Jaillet didn’t get through his debut in goal for the Pios after he left early with concussion symptoms. He had his legs swept out and flipped up skates high before landing on his head early in the first period.

1. Evan Cowley, Denver – It wasn’t like his 14 saves were especially impressive statistically. But between his Friday shutout and the near-blanking on Saturday, his weekend was a good start for the sophomore replacing Sam Brittain.

2. Zac Larraza, Denver – A post-game scoring change gave Larraza a first-period goal that appeared to belong to Quentin Shore. But the second-period tally was all Larraza’s. Like Cowley, his weekend grades an A.

3. Joey LaLeggia, Denver – The senior defenseman finished with five shots and his quick work in their own zone helped keep RPI to just two shots in the first perios and only six in the third.

WHAT ELSE?

RPI earned a penalty shot midway through the second period after DU’s Will Butcher was whistled for tripping. But RPI’s Jake Wood whiffed on a backhand deke move and the puck slid away.

Right after, Cowley, who never flinched, waved a “Meh, no big deal” motion with his glove hand.

University of Denver North Dakota in the second period of the game at Magness Arena in Denver, CO. on Friday, February 24, 2012.

The DU Pioneers (4-0, 2-0 WCHA) have scored five goals in each of their four games and only allowed a combined six. Indeed, this defensive-minded team has been a big surprise in the opponent’s end.

“Our scoring is kind of spread around, throughout the lineup, forwards and defensemen,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said Saturday after his team’s 5-2 series-sweeping victory over Michigan Tech. “It’s been a good start for us. I really, really have to give a lot of credit to our leadership, led by (captain) Paul Phillips. He’s one of those silent leaders . . . Paul and the three guys that are working with him — (Shawn) Ostrow, (Chris) Knowlton and (Nick) Shore — have done an outstanding job preparing this team for the season, making sure (everyone) is held accountable.”

Said Ostrow: “Little different from previous years. We have four lines contributing right now. It’s nice. We don’t rely on the same player every night. Everyone is chipping in.”

Sophomore defenseman Joey LaLeggia continues his all-American campaign. He already has three goals and six points in four games.

“I think we’ve surprised a lot of people these last two weekends,” LaLeggia said. “We’re just going to continue to do the right things, keep working hard.”

Our game story should be up at www.denverpost.com/sports soon. Thanks for reading.

Because of next Tuesday’s presidential debate at Magness Arena, DU has evacuated its Murray Armstrong Hockey Complex (locker room, lounge, etc.) and is practicing at Joy Burns Arena on the Pioneers’ campus and using the Avalanche facility at Family Sports Center in Centennial.

The Secret Service owns Magness Arena right now, and will continue to do so until after the Pioneers’ Oct. 6 exhibition game against British Columbia at the Pepsi Center.

Meanwhile, the rebuilding Pioneers were picked to finish third by the media in the final year of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as we know it.

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Done trying to figure out the PairWise Rankings and what it means to DU, but I’m told the Pios will at least get an at-large bid on Sunday and compete in its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament beginning next weekend at one of four regionals. At 7:35 p.m. CT, they were 10th in the PWR, which equates to a No. 3 seed. Don’t think the Pios care who they play. Confidence is high.

Because of Jason Zucker and Luke Salazar’s late-game heroics in today’s 3-2 OT victory over Michigan Tech, I didn’t write much on freshman wing Ty Loney, who I thought was the No. 1 star in the WCHA Final Five quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center. Loney had just one shot (goal) but added the game-tying assist and was plus-2 on the Drew Shore-centered line, with Salazar.

Loney, 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, is the son of two-time Stanley Cup winner Troy Loney, whom I met today upon entering the building. Ty Loney obviously has great genes and size for his age, but he was a healthy scratch in six of DU’s first 11 games this season. DU coach George Gwozdecky joked that he was so behind at the start of the season, he didn’t think young Ty, who turned 20 on March 1, “could keep up” in practice.

Loney has 10 goals and 20 points — a fine freshman season.

Also didn’t have room to give freshman goalie Juho Olkinuora the required love in Friday’s game story. He had 27 saves in a game that proves how much the program likes him — he started a tournament game with win-or-go-home stakes. “I felt good. It wasn’t one of my best games, I’d say. There was stuff that I could clean up,” Olkinuora said.

Sophomore Sam Brittain is expected to start in Friday’s semis against Minnesota-Duluth. He and “Jussi” have been rotating regularly and are undoubtedly a nice luxury. “Like I’ve said before, we boost each other and make each other better,” Olkinuora said.” Whoever is in net, you know there aren’t going to be any easy goals. I feel like it’s a good situation.”

DU junior defenseman Paul Phillips suffered a leg injury on his first or second shift and was getting an MRI performed after the game, in which he did not finish. If he can’t go Friday the Pios will be limited to five D — including freshmen Joey LaLeggia, Scott Mayfield and Josiah Didier. Seniors John Ryder and John Lee are playing mega minutes and the young guys are playing exceptionally well. Phillips also didn’t play most of Sunday’s game against Wisconsin, after getting banged up against the boards, so going with five D is nothing unusual for this group.

Also want to get some Jason Zucker stuff out of the way, even though it’s also in the game story.

“Certainly, he’s got a great release and scored a big goal for us today,” Gwozdecky said of the OT winner. “Jason and I had some discussions after the first period and after the second period, trying to analyze and help him get better in the game. I think he’d be the first to admit that he didn’t have a great game tonight . . . Certainly we’d like to be able to see him, along with some of his other teammates, play more of complete game (today).”

Finally, this from Salazar. The 5-foot-nothing, 155-pounder has scored a goal in his last three games, and has four in his last five. He has been a late-game hero in three consecutive 3-2 OT victories, scoring the third-period tying goal March 3 at UNO and the OT tally Sunday against Wisconsin.

“We’ve been down or tied in the third period the last few games and don’t want to change our game plan,” Salazar joked. “I’ve pretty much just been lucky.”

UND wins 4-3 tonight at Magness Arena in a game that was only close in the final minute. DU’s Drew Shore, Joey LaLeggia and Jason Zucker scored in the final 5:26, the latter two at 47 seconds and 11 seconds.

“It’s hard to say anything good about that game. You can say yeah, we scored (three goals), but you have to give full credit to North Dakota. They were better than us in every department,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “This is probably one of the most difficult interviews I’ve had to do in a long time because I’m extremely disappointed.”

UND cruised to a 2-0 lead after two periods and 4-0 advantage by 8:18 of the third period. For a full game story, visit www.denverpost.com/sports.

I hope I’m not jinxing the Denver Pioneers here, heading into a huge series this weekend against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux at Magness Arena, but this has to be written, tweeted … shouted — particularly when comparing it to an equally exclusive program like UND.

The Pioneers haven’t been swept in a WCHA regular-season or playoff series since Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, 2008 — at St. Cloud State. According to my math, they have gained at least one point in 53 consecutive series over four seasons (including non-consecutive games with Colorado College), a truly remarkable streak, because nobody in the WCHA comes close to that feat, and I doubt any team in the NCAA can touch it. The WCHA may not be the country’s toughest conference this season, but it certainly has been among the top two for the last decade or more.

In comparison, North Dakota has been swept twice this season (at Wisconsin and at Minnesota), league-leading Minnesota once (at DU) and second-place Minnesota-Duluth once (at Minnesota). Colorado College has been swept twice (at North Dakota and at Bemidji State) and Wisconsin has been swept three times (at CC, at UND and against SCSU).

DU has been madly inconsistent this season (mostly because of injuries) but the closest it got to being swept was Oct. 28-29 at Michigan Tech, when the Huskies won 7-2 before tying 2-2.

Senior defenseman John Lee was a freshman when DU lost twice at St. Cloud. “It’s a long time to not be swept, and it’s a really good thing,” Lee said. “The coaches prepare us like every game is a new series. If you win Friday night, it doesn’t mean anything for Saturday, and vise versa. I think our coaches do a good job every day to get us ready to play.”

Added freshman defenseman Joey LaLeggia (who is our feature in Friday’s paper): “It goes back to Coach Gwozdecky. If we lose on Friday, he does a great job preparing us for Saturday, staying positive and getting us to bounce back. I think it’s that and the great players he and his staff bring in.”

Overall, the Pioneers haven’t been swept since last season, when they lost their home-opening weekend series 6-2 and 3-0 to Boston College.

Denver has not been swept in a WCHA series since Nov. 14-15, 2008 (at St. Cloud State), and that remarkable streak will last until at least next weekend, when DU hosts North Dakota.

DU is tied for sixth in the latest PairWise and remains third in the WCHA. The Pioneers (preseason No. 1 in the league) are what almost everyone thought they’d be at the start of the season, and everything I thought they would be once Brittain returned to the lineup from major knee surgery and freshmen defensemen Scott Mayfield, Joey LaLeggia and Josiah Didier had ample time to develop into Division I defenders.

Make no mistake, when DU gets Beau Bennett and possibly David Makowksi back, this could be the team to beat in the national tournament.

Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves said of Brittain: “He was a young man that we recruited pretty heavily. I thought he was really square to the puck tonight. He doesn’t have a lot of wasted motion, which was one of the things we liked about him. He’s a big lad, not a lot of wasted motion, pretty calm in net and he was pretty square to the puck tonight. One of our challenges is to get more traffic in front of him. As good as he is, it’s tougher to see the puck when you don’t see it.”

The following is a verbatim release from the Hockey Commissioner’s Association, honoring the DU paisan who leads all NCAA freshmen in scoring:

Joey LaLeggia, a freshman defenseman at the University of Denver, has been selected as the HCA National Rookie of the Month for January.

A 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Burnaby, B.C., LaLeggia led Denver to a 5-1 record in the month of January by contributing 12 scoring points, earning a +4 plus/minus rating, recording 11 hits and 11 blocked shots. Named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 17, he tallied at least one point in all six games with two goals and 10 assists, had five consecutive multiple-point games from Jan. 7-28, and finished the month as the Pioneers’ top point and assist man. He had a career-high three assists in a 3-2 league win over Bemidji State on Jan. 14 and is currently in the midst of a career-best eight-game point streak with four goals, 11 assists and 15 points.

Playing in all 26 of Denver’s games this season, LaLeggia leads all NCAA Div. 1 rookies with 28 points. He leads all NCAA Div. 1 rookie blueliners in points (28), goals (10) and assists (18). He also ranks second among Div. 1 defensemen with 10 goals and is third in scoring among his Pioneer teammates as a freshman.

It’s Gold Pan week, so let’s talk rivalry hockey. DU begins a home-and-home series with Colorado College on Friday at Magness Arena. With a win, the Pioneers reclaim the traveling trophy, because the Tigers can’t win it outright. The Tigers need two wins or a win and a tie. DU won 5-4 on Nov. 12 in Denver and CC triumphed 4-3 in OT on Dec. 2 in the Springs.

DU returned from its long weekend travels Sunday after sweeping Alaska-Anchorage by 4-2 and 6-3 scores. Sophomore goalie Sam Brittain played for the first time this season in the finale, in which the Pioneers led 5-0 before allowing three unanswered UAA goals. Junior goalie Adam Murray played the opener.

Freshman Jussi Olkinuora, who was the No. 1 guy in December when Brittain and Murray were out, didn’t play in the series and didn’t suit up on Saturday. DU coach George Gwozdecky was asked about his goaltending situation today, before an optional practice.

“I thought Adam played well on Friday night and I thought Sam got better as the game went on Saturday. Sam was rusty,” Gwozdecky said. “We weren’t sure how he was going to play. They came back on us and Sam became a lot more assertive and aggressive, and assured of himself in the third period.”

He added: “It’s a challenging situation but we’ve certainly got three guys who are capable of leading us to wins.”

Gwozdecky said sophomore defenseman David Makowski, who has missed the past six games with an upper-body injury, “skated Thursday and Friday with the guys who didn’t make the trip, and that’s progress.” Freshman wing Zac Larraza (upper body) is also doing light conditioning. Sophomore wing Beau Bennett (wrist surgery) and freshman defenseman Wade Bennett (hip) remain unavailable.

Look for a story about red-hot DU freshman wing Ty Loney in Tuesday’s paper — seven-game points streak (12 points, six goals) — with a little mention of simmering classmate Joey LaLeggia (eight-game points streak, 15 points, four goals). The undersized paisan defenseman leads the country in freshman scoring (28 points) and has 17 points in his last 10 games.

We have a more complete story about the injuries to DU senior defenseman John Ryder (knee) and junior goalie Adam Murray (groin) at The Post’s breaking news page at www.denverpost.com/sports. Both players will be out until at least January, perhaps around the time DU might welcome the return of sophomore standout goalie Sam Brittain.

Losing Ryder takes away DU’s best own-zone skater, and its biggest hitter. Losing Murray gives freshman Juho Olkinuora a chance to further stake his claim for the No. 1 job until Brittain returns from major knee surgery he underwent June 17.

Olkinuora has played well in five appearances and 227 minutes, with a 2.11 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. Murray has a 3.40 GAA and .902 save percentage in 440 minutes. The fourth-string goalie is junior Zack Hope, a 5-foot-7, 145-pound walk-on who was just a DU student the past two years.

Olkinuora cannot get hurt. “There is some confidence there,” he said after today’s practice. “It feels great to be in the net. I can’t think too much about Murray’s situation. Hopefully he’ll get better soon. But this is what I signed up for — not this way — but I still have to fill up that spot. I’m excited.”

Instead of stumbling through Olkinuora’s name, let’s just call him Jussi — like former DU defenseman Jussi Halme of Finland. That’s pronounced You-see, which is what friends have called the Finnish Olkinuora most of his life.

“When I was 5 I told my parents I hated the name Juho,” Jussi said. “It’s a simple story but I confuse a lot of people.”

Ryder’s injury hurts, although DU is fortunate to have been playing seven D in most games this year. Freshmen Scott Mayfield, Josiah Didier and Joey LaLeggia can breathe easier, because nobody is going to get scratched at a point where DU coach George Gwozdecky said he was thinking about moving to the traditional six-man lineup corps.

Gwozdecky said thanks are owed to former goaltending coach Derek Lalonde and associate head coach Steve Miller for finding unsigned Jussi in the summer, and getting him into school after some issues were raised by the NCAA about some pro leagues he played in in Finland.

“Jussi’s had a chance to play, he’s played pretty well for the most part, so he’s going to get a chance to carry the mail for us,” Gwozdecky said.

Gwozdecky said Ryder underwent a CT scan on his knee cap but the coach hasn’t learned of the results. “I’m pretty sure the time-table is January,” Gwozdecky said. “He’s our tough, hard-nosed, physical defenseman with the ability as a senior to play with great poise and within his role. He takes great pride in defending his zone and has done a great job. In many ways, that’s a tough, tough role to fill. I don’t know if we have anybody to fill that role, but certainly we do have six defensemen who have played on regular basis. That is of great value to us right now.”

DU junior goalie Adam Murray will start in Friday’s two-game series opener against Nebraska Omaha at Magness Arena. Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said Saturday’s starter will be determined after Game 1.

Two revelations about UNO: The Mavericks don’t like a hyphen between Nebraska and Omaha and they chose to bus here instead of fly. They are scheduled to practice at Joy Burns Arena tonight at 6 after the 7-8 hour drive.

Bennett, who seemingly makes this team go offensively, said he missed the Nov. 4-5 Minnesota-Duluth series because a cyst developed on his wrist, just above the skate-blade gash that forced him out of the Oct. 28-29 series at Michigan Tech. Bennett said once the cyst was treated (drained, I believe), he regained the strength with his stick.

“We found it, took care of it, and it feels good every since,” Bennett said. “Full strength.”

Bennett capped a beautiful give-and-go play with Salazar to give the Pios a 1-0 lead over CC, and they went on to light up the Tigers (who trailed 5-1). He has seven points (five assists) in five games.

“Beau is just a very dynamic player who makes everybody around him better,” DU co-captain Dustin Jackson said. “His ability with the puck is probably the best on this team. He draws players to him and he can dish, and if nobody’s there he can score. He added a lot to our team last week and it’s good to have him back.”

Bennett needs to save the poor power play. The Pioneers are 36th nationally with a 15 percent success rate with the advantage. The top unit will again feature David Makowksi and Joey LaLeggia at the points with Bennett, Nick Shore and Zucker down low. Drew Shore is spearheading the second unit.

“We’re getting chances,” Bennett said of the PP. “It’s better than getting the puck it and getting it thrown right back out. We’re getting it in, setting it up and getting chances. I think the biggest thing is getting traffic to the net, more bodies towards the net. I think we’re a little too perimeter right now. I think that will change this weekend.”

We are running a feature on DU freshman defenseman Josiah Didier of Littleton in Friday’s paper. Didier, 18, is one of three blue-chip newcomers being introduced to an otherwise veteran blue line. Didier and classmates Scott Mayfield and Joey LaLeggia need playing time, but the Pioneers don’t want to scratch seniors John Ryder and John Lee, junior Paul Phillips or sophomore David Makowski.

So they’ve gone with a seven-D, 11-forward lineup for the first four games, and DU coach George Gwozdecky said that could again be the case in Friday’s series opener at Michigan Tech. Available fourth-line forwards on the trip are freshmen Ty Loney, Daniel Doremus and Matt Tabrum and senior Nate Dewhurst. Junior forward Chris Knowlton remains on a team-imposed suspension this weekend, but Gwozdecky said he could be available for next week’s series against Minnesota-Duluth at Magness Arena.

Meanwhile, here’s some leftover stuff from the Didier story:

“You can see him improving every practice. You can see him gaining understanding, gaining confidence, just getting better every day,” Gwozdecky said of Didier.

About the hassle of using seven D (different partners, less playing time, etc.)

“Someone is going to beat someone else out,” Gwozdecky said. “You always want to put your best lineup on the ice, and up to this point our best lineup has included seven defensemen.”

Didier is definitely a keeper. He’s big (almost 6-foot-3 and closing in on 210 pounds) and mobile.

“I’m still trying to build into my body and get more mature and stronger, and I think my on-ice stuff is going to continue to improve as I’m here with these coaches and all these great players,” he said. “I’m learning a lot from the older guys and that’s helping me adjust to the game better. I’m just trying to keep it simple out there, not trying to do too much with the puck and take the body. I feel great about coming in this year. Last year helped me a lot, hockey and school, and managing my time. I’ve learned a lot already.

DU junior center Shawn Ostrow, younger brother of the Pioneers’ captain last season, Kyle Ostrow, paced an explosive offensive tonight with two goals and two helpers in a 10-2 beat down of Minnesota State. Shawn was eager to talk to his older brother, who also was playing tonight — with the Chicago Express of the ECHL.

“I am excited,” Shawn said. “Hopefully I beat him (in points). That would be nice.”

DU coach George Gwozdecky reached victory No. 400 in his 18 years at the Hilltop on Friday and looks for No. 401 in tonight’s Game 2 series finale against Minnesota State at Magness Arena. Gwozdecky is 400-240-55 at DU and 550-364-77 overall as a Division I coach.

Meanwhile, the Pioneers are going with the same 11-forward, seven-D lineup as Friday, when they rallied to win 4-2, but with a couple minor tweaks. Freshman goalie Juho Olkinuora is available as the backup after serving a NCAA-imposed three-game suspension and freshmen forwards Zac Larraza and Daniel Doremus have swapped spots, with Larraza moving up to the “second” line with center Nick Shore and Beau Bennett. Doremus is a fourth-line wing opposite classmate Matt Tabrum, with rotating centers.

Make no mistake, this non-traditional lineup is in place to continue to give scholarship freshmen defensemen Scott Mayfield, Josiah Didier and Joey LaLeggia experience, but without sacrificing the required services of senior D John Lee and John Ryder, junior Paul Phillips and sophomore David Makowski.

Today was DU hockey media day, and another opportunity to check in on the Pioneers’ power play.

Yes, it was intact. Drew Shore is playing the point alongside David Makowski (or Joey LaLeggia), with Beau Bennett, Nick Shore and Jason Zucker down low. We’ll have a story about that potentially awesome first unit in Wednesday’s paper. Can it operate at 30 percent?

Dunno. But I guarantee Zucker will score more than two power-play goals as a sophomore. Indeed, just two of his 23 goals last season came on the PP. DU split up its top 10 offensive players last season and the PP was at 18.6 percent (22nd nationally).

DU junior goalie Adam Murray left tonight’s exhibition against the U.S. under-18 team with what the team is calling a “lower-body injury.” He stopped 10-of-10 shots in the first period and did not return for the second. Of course, sophomore Sam Brittain is unavailable until at least January after undergoing major knee surgery June 17. Freshman Juho Olkinuora, who is older than Murray and Brittain, inherited a 1-0 lead and played pretty well in DU’s 3-0 win.

THE PLOT THICKENS: Junior Zack Hope, a 5-foot-7, 145-pounder donning blue pads, finished the game for the Pioneers. Why? Because he will be DU’s backup (or starting?) goalie in next Friday’s season opener at Boston College. No kidding. DU coach George Gwozdecky revealed that Olkinuora will serve a three-game eligibility suspension to begin his NCAA career and Hope — who was just a DU student the past two years — will at the very least be the backup.

“He played in some leagues in Finland that some of the players might not have been considered amateurs,” Gwozdecky said of his Finnish goalie who was unsigned in the summer after playing for Sioux Falls of the USHL last season. “The NCAA has ruled on his eligibility. He’s got to sit the first three regular-season games and then he’s ready to go.”

About Murray: “I don’t think it’s serious. As soon as I heard Adam was tweaked a little bit, I said, ‘Get him out.'”

Meanwhile, DU is still using a stacked power play, albeit a little tweaked because defenseman/point man David Makowski is scratched with a minor injury. The top PP unit features sophomores Beau Bennett, Nick Shore and Jason Zucker down low with junior Drew Shore and freshman Joey LaLeggia at the points. LaLeggia, a puck-moving defenseman, is replacing Makowski. Bennett had two power-play goals.

The second unit features senior Johnny Lee with freshman Scott Mayfield up top with senior Luke Salazar, freshman Daniel Doremus and freshman Ty Loney.

Shocking to super shocking to … thinking I’m not so smart, or everyone else has been reading the same misguided scouting report.

Good thing about all this is, we’re going to find out together.

A day after the WCHA media picked Denver to win the MacNaughton Cup as regular-season champion, the coach’s poll predicted the same. I didn’t think it was possible.

Per my previous blog, I don’t think the Pioneers are capable of playing excellent hockey consistently, particularly in the early part of the season, and consistency is required to win the toughest league in the country.

They will have an unproven goalie in the nets and three freshmen defensemen in front of junior Adam Murray for at least the first half of the season. They have a terrific scoring nucleus of junior Drew Shore and sophomores Jason Zucker, Beau Bennett and Nick Shore, and tough-and-experienced group of defensemen led by John Ryder and John Lee.

They also have a fine freshmen class. But that’s another thing. They have a huge freshmen class. Ten newcomers, including six who will play immediately.

I envision DU finishing among the top four teams and being in position to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year. I do not think the Pioneers will be in the running for the MacNaughton Cup. I hope I’m wrong.

Scott Mayfield was the No. 34 overall pick by the Islanders in the 2011 NHL draft.

DU released its “official” roster Monday, and it reminded me of how the Pioneers will again introduce three freshmen defensemen to the starting lineup — at least during the first part of the season.

Remember the Matt Donovan-William Wrenn-Paul Phillips situation two years ago? DU brought in the three young NHL-drafted defensemen and each played extensively right off the bat. In fact, then-juniors Chris Nutini and John Ryder — who finished the season as two of the team’s top defensive defensemen — were both scratched in October to give the young guys playing time. Later, senior Cody Brookwell spent some time as a healthy scratch.

The Pios enter 2011-12 in a similar situation, although just one proven vet might lose a lineup spot here and there early on. Newcomers Scott Mayfield, Josiah Didier and Joey LaLeggia are going to play early, and play a lot, but Ryder, John Lee, Phillips and David Makowski make up a solid blue-line nucleus. Ryder (redshirt) and Lee are seniors, Phillips a junior and Makowski a sophomore.

That’s seven defensemen, plus walk-on freshman Wade Bennett, who can also play forward but is pegged as the eighth D.

Young forward Jared Fiegl of Parker has pledged to play for DU beginning for the 2014-15 season. The 15-year-old product of the Colorado Rampage triple-A organization in Monument is the first known commitment for the 2014 freshmen class and the seventh Coloradoan scheduled to join the Pioneers within the next three years.

“I am very fortunate with this opportunity,” Fiegl, 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, said through Rampage director Andrew Sherman.

Fiegl, who was born Jan. 23, 1996, was 14 for most of last season but “because of his skills, size and commitment (he) played on our U16 team,” Sherman said. In the U16 Elite League, Fiegl had six goals in 36 games.

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.